Front end Click / Pop noise

Hey guys,

Working with an 87 Notch 5.0 with no suspension mods.

While driving at low speeds (anywhere from 5 - 30 mph) I hear a pop kind of sound when I turn left coming from the front end. Sometimes I'll here it when I turn right, but it mostly happens on left turns. And it especially happens after braking, letting off the brakes, then turning left. It's not always, but most of the time. Also, it clicks almost immediately when I start the turn...about a quarter turn of the steering wheel (as a side note: if this makes a difference I have the Power Rack and Pinion w/ the shorter turning radius)

When I had the oil changed at Goodyear, I asked them to take a look at it. They told me they thought it was the wheel bearings. So I changed the bearings and seals and the sound did not get any better (I didn't change the races, they were fine when I inspected them...and the bearings didn't look too bad when I looked at them).

Then I lifted the front end so I can turn the wheels left and right to take a closer look at where the noise is coming from and it wasn't making any noise. I then figured that there must be a load present while turning the wheel. So I put the wheels back on the ground and had someone turn the steering wheel left and right a few times. Sure enough I get a clicking / popping sound. I can't exactly tell where it's coming from, though. It sounds like it's right in the middle of the Power Rack and Pinion...but I'm not positive. It didn't take much turning to produce the noise (although the noise isn't as loud like when I'm driving it).

There's no play in the steering, and I think it could be one or more of the three:
-Tie rod ends
-Ball joints
-Power Rack and Pinion (what part? I'm not sure. I don't know that much about that part of the steering)
-Possibly the struts (I only say this because they're so old and need replacing...which I will be doing soon)

The tie rods and ball joints were replaced within the last 30K miles or so (maybe less)...but I don't want to rule them out completely. Can anybody help me pinpoint where this is coming from?

Thanks,
Joseph

Thanks Jayded for the quick response.

If I were to check the control arm bushings, how can I tell if they need replacing (besides, of course, if they're dry rotted and cracked)?

sunil6784 said:

In my case, it was the inner tie rods. Are both the inner and outers new?

I only got a creaking/popping noise while turning though.

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Come to think of it. I believe only the outers were replaced. I only get the noise while turning, too.

4G-KDMP said:

springs could be moving in the perches also.

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Not sure how to check that. I didn't see the springs move when the wheels were turning while I was under the car...at least not out of my periph



I think it might be related to the inner tie rods...that would explain how the sound is toward the center of the rack and pinion.

U2SLO450 said:

sounds like one of the swaybar endlinks are broken

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I recently replaced those. And I remember what that sound was like. It made a sound on every bump, and this sound is only when turning. Plus, I just did a visual check since you posted and it looks fine. The others that I replaced were obvious that they were broke. And it felt strange while driving.

Also, if I have the car in Park and I turn the key to the on position (just enough to be able to move the stearing wheel) I can turn the steering wheel back and forth to replicate the sound. If I turn to the right (less than a 1/4 turn), then slowly back to the left, it will click like 3-5 times, with the loudest at the end.

.....hmmm